Glafkos Clerides was a profound reformer who linked Cyprus’s European path with the modernization of its economy and institutions, said DISY President Anita Dimitriou, on Sunday during her commemorative address at the 13th Annual Memorial Service for Glafkos Clerides, which was held at the Cathedral of St. Barnabas, in Nicosia.
“Glafkos Clerides literally went through fire and brimstone. He experienced war and captivity, conflicts and divisions, the coup d’état, the invasion, and national catastrophe. He personally experienced the great trials of our country and played a leading role—through his ideas, choices, and decisions—in the reconstruction, the transformation of our economy and society, helping ensure that we today enjoy as much normality as possible,” noted Anita Dimitriou.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
“So, as we stand here today in his memory, we honor a man who devoted most of his life to serving his country, without ever losing faith in its potential,” he emphasized.
“This imposes a special duty upon us toward him: to approach his life not only with respect and gratitude, but first and foremost with a willingness to learn from his experiences and choices,” he added.
READ ALSO: President Christodoulides: We Owe a Debt of Gratitude to Glafkos Clerides for Cyprus’s Accession to the EU | AlphaNews
“Glafkos Clerides’ most important legacy, beyond his achievements, is the way he understood politics. As a responsibility toward his homeland, as a constant search for solutions, and as an obligation to confront whatever holds us back,” said Ms. Dimitriou, noting that “he put courage and his values first, and these gave him the motivation to move forward.”
“His most important legacy, therefore, is his courage. A bravery that was expressed in the resolve he had to defend his beliefs, even when he knew he would face opposition,” she emphasized.
“This legacy transcends the boundaries of the political party he founded. It speaks to all of us who participate in public life, and especially to the new generation of politicians,” he said.
“Glafkos Clerides dared, in the wake of the 1974 tragedy, in a society wounded by the invasion and uprooting, to support the federal solution,” he noted. “He knew that this position would provoke reactions and clash with deeply rooted beliefs. He chose, however, to defend what he considered necessary for the future of Cypriot Hellenism and the Republic of Cyprus,” he added.
“It was one of the difficult choices that marked his political career. And it reminds us of how much foresight and inner strength are required for decisions made in the face of society’s expectations and the pressures of the times,” noted Annita Dimitriou, adding that “it was clearly a choice made in the face of populism, the toxic climate of the era, and prevailing attitudes.”
“For Glafkos Clerides, his responsibility toward the next generation outweighed the outcome of an election,” she emphasized.
“That same mindset also shaped his reformist approach, because he was a deeply committed reformer. The very founding of the Democratic Alarm, in 1976, helped shape the modern Cypriot center-right—a patriotic, liberal, and pro-European political force,” he said.
“Later, as President of the Republic, he linked Cyprus’s European path to the modernization of its economy and institutions. European integration required a tremendous shift away from entrenched notions, which were intertwined with the unique circumstances under which the Cypriot state was founded,” he noted.
“He believed in democracy and human rights. He believed in peace and cooperation among European nations. After all, he fought against fascism and Nazism to keep freedom and democracy alive in Europe,” Ms. Dimitriou said.
This way of thinking, she continued, “takes on particular significance today, in a world that is becoming more uncertain, more competitive, often more violent, and different from the one we once knew.” “Geopolitical upheavals, technological advances, and changes in the global economy create risks and call on us to be open to change, resilient, and adaptable,” he added.
“In this environment, institutional and structural reforms are a prerequisite for a safer and more optimistic future. It is our duty to prepare for the world to come,” he noted.
“If there is one issue in which we can see, all in one place, everything that characterized Glafkos Clerides’ political thought, it is the Cyprus issue. It was there, more than anywhere else, that his political courage, realism, and commitment to the long-term interests of the homeland were put to the test,” he emphasized.
For Clerides, he noted, “the Cyprus issue was not merely a declared national and collective goal. It was a life’s work, a constant effort to create the conditions necessary for the hope of reunification to become a reality.”
“He was aware of the difficulties and risks involved in any negotiation effort. He understood, however, that the ongoing occupation and division were creating new realities, which, over time, made reunification increasingly difficult,” Ms. Dimitriou pointed out.
“That is why he did not limit himself to managing the existing situation. He sought to shift the balance of power and create new possibilities,” she emphasized. “The European strategy was the most significant expression of this vision. It was also a fundamental expression of his patriotism: the conviction that love for one’s homeland must translate into tangible results,” he added.
“The fact that he did not live to see his homeland reunified remains a painful reminder of the unfinished work he left behind. Despite his great successes and historic achievements, he passed away with the issue to which he had devoted so much of his life still unresolved,” said Anita Dimitriou.
“His turbulent life itself sends us an optimistic message: even under the most difficult circumstances, the future is not predetermined. We shape it ourselves,” she emphasized.
“What he left us as a legacy is a model of political conduct: to examine reality with a cool head, to pursue the necessary changes, and to remember that our responsibility to our country transcends the limits of our personal ambition,” he emphasized.
“For Glafkos Clerides, the Democratic Rally is the space where thoughts and ideas are freely expressed,” said Ms. Dimitriou. “For him, unity did not mean uniformity, nor did a differing opinion pose a threat, but rather a creative synthesis that is transformed into policies and collective action to support them,” she noted.
“Glafkos Clerides, through his life, does not call on us to return to the past. After all, he always looked ahead,” she said.
“The best way to honor his memory is not to repeat what he did, but for each of us, from our own position, to find the courage and determination to do what our own era demands,” he concluded.
Source: CNA
